Eddie’s Frozen Custard Owner Edward ‘Eddie’ McGhee, above left, was one of many employers who attended Merchant Fest to inform students about the restaurants and other eateries who accept Lion’s Lagniappe.
Regina Pergola/The Lion’s Roar

Free samples and information were given out at the First Annual Merchant Festival hosted by Campus Card Operations. Businesses where students can use Lion’s Lagniappe came together and set up stalls to allow interested students to taste their products. 

“This is our off-campus Merchants’ Fest,” said Director of Campus Card Operations Pamela Hoover. “This is really to help us to offer the students to meet with all of our off-campus merchants, who participate with our Lion’s Lagniappe program and give them an opportunity to sample some of their goods.”

On Mar. 23 from 2-4 p.m., these businesses set up tables in the Student Union Breezeway. They offered a selection of their goods to any interested parties who passed through the breezeway. Vendors and samples included chips and dip handed out by Applebee’s, strawberry lemonade and 20 percent off coupons from IHOP, chocolate or vanilla custard from Eddie’s Famous Frozen Custard and more.

Lagniappe users can use the GET app to make online deposits into their Lion’s Lagniappe account, check their recent transactions, report a lost or found ID and identify all Lion’s Lagniappe merchants. 

Campus Card Operations held a raffle for a basket of goods, and they also offered free merchandise to anyone willing to show or download the GET app on their phone. 

“It’s really nice,” said Hoover. “They’re donating their time and products, and we will be giving out some prizes.”

The point of the festival was to raise awareness of outside businesses that accepted lagniappe. Lagniappe is money that students can put on their campus IDs and use as a debit card on and off campus. 

“So hopefully, it’ll introduce them to our Lion’s Lagniappe program which is what our office does as well,” said Hoover. “I think a lot of students may not be aware of the off-campus merchants program. That’s really what we’re promoting.”

Smoothie King had a table set up with pamphlets about health and free smoothie samples. 

“We are passing out smoothies,” said Matthew Montgomery, general manager at Smoothie King. “Showing everybody about our business.”

Students can support local businesses and the university by visiting Lion’s Lagniappe merchants. 

“We’ve been a part of the Lion’s Lagniappe program for about three years now and loving the influx of new students that come and see us every day,” said Montgomery.

More information on the GET app or the Lion’s Lagniappe program can be found at Campus Card Operations website.